Sample-supply device for automatic analysis apparatus



May 1964 E. B- M. DE JONG SAMPLE-SUPPLY DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC ANALYSISAPPARATUS Filed Oct. 20. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 gOEIZOZIZ-ZIKIKOZIKDEOB"MMIINIY" 111 u av, 'I'lvnlm MAIIVWIVAIMIIMIVIIAIAIWIVMMIIIJIIA'MII'JYII! Mun run unny; vnnnunnnnunnuuunu nunuuunnnvn INVENTOR.

BY {9 I i me/wry y 26, 1964 E. B. M. DE JONG 3,134,263

SAMPLE-SUPPLY DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC ANALYSIS APPARATUS Filed Oct- 20,1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 VIII/[J INVENTOR.

May 26, 1964 E. B. M. DE JONG 3,134,263

SAMPLE-SUPPLY DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC ANALYSIS APPARATUS Filed Oct. 20,196]. 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent 3,134,263 SAMPLE-SUPPLYDEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC ANALYSIS APPARATUS Eduard B. M. de Jong, Tilburg,Netherlands, assignor to Technicon Instruments Corporation, Chauncey,N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 146,551 12Claims. (Cl. 73-423) This invention relates to automatic liquid analysisapparatus and, more particularly, to the sample supply means for suchapparatus which includes a step-wise movable turntable carrying a seriesof cups or other containers for the liquid samples which are presentedindividually to an aspiration or other suitable take-oil device fortransmission of the samples in succession to the analysis apparatus.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a sample supply devicewith stationary receptacle means for supplying a wash liquid betweensuccessive samples.

Another object is to provide a sample supply device with means forproviding a wash liquid between successive samples from a continuouslychanging supply of the wash liquid.

A further object is to provide a sample supply device having means forproviding a wash liquid between successive samples which is of generallyimproved construction and design.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of this inventionwill be apparent from the following description of the presentlypreferred embodiment of the invention considered in connection with theaccompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a sample supply device embodying theinvention with the device connected to an anlysis apparatus which isdiagrammatically illustrated;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view, on a larger scale, of theportion of FIG. 1 which is enclosed by the broken line and which isdesignated by the arrow 2;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, partly in section, of part of the samplesupply device;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, taken on line 55 of FIG.3;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of part of the apparatus with parts omitted;and

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view, on a larger scale, taken on line7--7 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings'in detail, the sample supply device 10,briefly described, comprises a carrier here shown as a turntable 12which is intermittently turned by suitable mechanism disposed within ahousing 14, said mechanism being illustrated by FIGS. 3, 6 and 7 andhereinafter more particularly described. The turntable comprises a plate16 which carries a series. of removable cups 18 for the liquid samples,said cups being disposed laterally of each other in a circular row. Forthis purpose, plate 16 is provided with a series series of holes 20 andthe cups have a peripheral shoulder 22 which rests on the marginal edgeof the plate around the openings through which the cup projects, asshown by FIGS. 4 and 7.

A take-oil device 24 is mounted on the top of the housing 14 laterallyof the plate 16 and laterally of a stationary receptacle 26 whichprovides a wash liquid for the liquid samples. The receptacle is mountedon top of the housing 14-, laterally outwardly of the carrier 12. Thetake-off device is mounted for movement laterally to positions above thecups 18 and the receptacle 26, respectively, and is also movable up anddown in said positions into and out of the cups and'receptacle,respectively,

for withdrawing the samples and wash liquid. The device includes atubular metal crook 28 through which the take-01f tube 30 extends forconnection to the pump 32 (FIG. 1) of the analysis apparatus 34 foraspiration of the sample liquid and wash liquid from the cup andreceptacle, respectively, and it is to be noted that in the up orretracted position of the take-off device, the inlet end 36 of thetake-off tube 30 is exposed to the air so that the take-oil device isoperative to aspirate air in said retracted position because of theoperation of pump 32, whereby a stream of longitudinally spaced liquidsamples S is formed wherein the liquid samples are separated from eachother by intervening segments of the wash liquid W disposed between apair of air segments A, as illustrated by FIG. 2. The wash liquidsegments are eifective to cleanse the walls of the tubular passages ofthe analysis apparatus and prevent contamination of a sample by apreceding sample and this cleansing action is an addition to thecleansing action provided by the intervening air segments.

As herein illustrated, the receptacle 26 for the wash liquid comprises arectangular block of a suitable plastic material having a pair of opentop chambers 38 and 40 interconnected to each other at their upper endsby a passage 42. Chamber 38 is provided with an inlet 44 which isadapted to be connected to a suitable source of wash liquid which may besupplied through a conduit 46 of the analysis apparatus 34 by the pump32. Chamber 40 is provided with an outlet 48 which may be connected to aconduit 50 of the analysis apparatus for pumping the wash liquid fromthe receptacle by the action of pump 32. The opening 52 of outlet 48 islarger than the opening 54 of inlet 44 so that excess wash liquid whichoverflows into chamber 40 from chamber 38 through passage 42 is readilydischarged tlnough the outlet at a faster rate than the flow of the washliquid into the receptacle to that the inlet end of the take-off tube isdisposed in the.

liquid sample for Withdrawing a portion of the sample therefrom. After aportion of the sample is withdrawn from the cup, the take-oil device isoperated and moves up into a retracted position with the inlet endexposed to the atmosphere so that air is again aspirated through saidinlet. The take-off device is then moved in its retracted positionlaterally, pivoting in a counterclockwise direc: tion as viewed in FIG.1, to a position where the inlet end of the tube 30 is above and inalignment with chamber 38 of receptacle 26. The take-off device thenmoves downwardly to immerse the inlet end of the take-off tube in thewash liquid in chamber 38 for withdrawing a portion of the liquidtherefrom. After said portion is withdrawn, the take-off device movesupwardly into a retracted position and in said position air is againaspirated through the take-off tube. The take-off device is then movedlaterally, pivoting in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1, untilthe inlet end of the take-off tube is positioned above the next cupwhich contains the next liquid sample and it will be understood thatsaid cup had previously been moved into position during the time thatthe inlet tube was withdrawn from the preceding sample cup. Indexingmovement of the plate 16 occurs when the take-oil tube is withdrawn fromthe cups.

lateral movement of the take-oil device will now be described withrespect to FIGS. 3, 6 and 7. The crook 28 is mounted on a vertical rod56 which is movable vertically in a sleeve 53 which is mounted on thehousing 14, A grooved wheel 60 is secured to the lower part of rod 56.An arm 62 is pivotally mounted at 64 to a support 66 and the arm isprovided with a bifurcated end 68 which has a pair of pins 70 whose endsare disposed in the peripheral groove 72 of wheel 60. A tension spring74, whose opposite ends are secured to the housing 14 and arm 62,respectively biases said arm into an upward position and roller 76,carried by arm 62, is biased by the spring into engagement with the cam78 so that rotation of said cam moves the take-ofi device 24 verticallyup and down in timed relation with the rotation of carrier plate 16.

1 Lateral pivotal movement of the take-off device is provided by the cam80 which engages a roller 82 that is secured to an arm 84. One or" theends of the arm is pivoted at 86 and the opposite end is provided with alongitudinal slot 88. A link 90 is secured at one of its ends to rod 56and its opposite end is provided with a pin 92 which slides in slot 88of arm 84, the latter being biased by a tension spring 94 so that roller82 is biased into engagement with cam 80. Rotation of said cam resultsin the lateral back and forth movements of the takeoff device 24 intimed relation to the intermittent rotation of plate 16 and the verticalup and down movement of the take-off device.

The mechanism for turning the turntable 12 is described in detail in theUS. patent application of Jack Isreeli, now US. Patent No. 3,038,340,issued June 12, 1962. As more fully described in said Isreeli patent, aGeneva gear 96 is mounted on a shaft 98 which is secured to a plate 100of housing 14. A pinion gear 102 is mounted for rotation on shaft 98 andGeneva gear 96 is secured to the hub of said pinion gear. Gear 102 is inmesh with an intermediate gear 104 which drives a gear 106, the lattergear being secured to a drive shaft 108 to which the plate 16 is securedfor intermittent rotation.

The driver for Geneva gear 96 is constituted by a pin 110 which projectsupwardly from a gear 112 which is part of a speed change mechanismoperated by the lever 114 shown in FIG. 6. An electric motor 116 turns aseries of gears 117, which are mounted on the drive shaft of the motorand are part of the speed change mechanism, and drive gear 118 mesheswith gear 112 to drive pin 110 for operating the Geneva gear 96 forintermittently rotating the plate 16.

The lateral pivotal movement and the up and down movements of thetake-off device are also effected by the operation of the Geneva gearmechanism since gear 112 is in mesh with a gear 120 to which earns 78and 80 are secured. Rotation of pin 110 and gear 112 results in thesimultaneous rotation of gear 120 and the operation of cam 78 and 80 sothat the operation of the take-off device is in timed relation with theintermittent rotation of the plate 16 of the turntable.

The liquid supply device is especially useful for providing a stream ofliquid samples separated from each other by intervening segments of washliquids disposed between a pair of air segments to an analysis apparatus34 of the type shown and described in U.S. Patent No. 2,797,149 issuedJune 25, 1957. Briefly described, the apparatus includes the previouslymentioned pump 32, which is a proportioning pump preferably of the typeshown in US. Patent No. 2,935,028 issued May 3, 1960, a dialyber 122, acolorimeter 124 and a recorder 126 which is operated under the controlof the colorimeter. The sample liquid stream containing the interveningwash and air segments is transmitted from the take-0E device 24 througha conduit 128 and air is introduced into the sample stream at fitting130 to segmentize the liquid segments of the stream, as illustrated inFIG. 2, said air segments AS being effective to cleanse the walls of thetubular passages of the apparatus as previously indicated and asdescribed in the aforementioned patent. The segmentizing air istransmitted to the fitting through con duit 132 by the action of thepump. A processing liquid is transmitted through conduit 133 and ismixed with the liquid of the sample stream in horizontal helical mixingcoil 134 and is transmitted through the dialyzer 122, at one side of themembrane thereof. An air segmented recipient liquid stream istransmitted through a conduit 136 and through the dialyzer at the otherside of the menbrane thereof and a dialyzate stream is formed which istransmitted from the dialyzer through a helical mixing coil 138 and thento the colorimeter 124 for colorimetric examination of the treatedsample. The results of the examination are recorded on the recorder 126.The recipient stream may contain a color producing agent and istransmitted through conduit 140 while the segmentizing air istransmitted through conduit 142. The air segments in the dialyzatestream are removed from the stream by the vented tube 144 prior tocolorimetric examination. The undiffused portions of the samplesegmented stream are discharged from the dialyzer through outlet 146.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described and thatcertain changes in the form and arrangement of parts and in the specificmanner of practicing the invention may be made without departing fromthe underlying idea or principles of this invention within the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Liquid-sample supply apparatus, comprising a carrier for a series ofliquid-sample containers, receptacle means mounted laterally of saidcarrier for providing a Wash liquid for the liquid-samples, a take-offdevice movable into and out of said containers and said receptaclemeans, respectively, for withdrawing the liquid samples from saidcontainers and the wash liquid from said receptacle means, means tointermittently move said take-off device and said carrier relative toeach other to position successive samples at said take-01f device, andmeans automatically operable in relation to said intermittent movementfor moving said take-off device into and out of said containers andreceptacle means, respectively.

2. Liquid-sample supply apparatus, comprising a carrier for a series ofliquid-sample containers, receptacle means mounted laterally of saidcarrier for providing a Wash liquid for the liquid-samples, a take-01fdevice mounted laterally of said carrier and movable laterally thereofand movable into and out of said containers and said receptacle means,respectively, for withdrawing the liquid samples from said containersand the wash'liquid from said receptacle means, means to intermittentlymove said take-off device and said carrier relative to each other toposition successive samples at said take-off device, and meansautomatically operable in relation to said intermittent movement formoving said take-off device into and out of said containers andreceptacle means, respectively.

3. Liquid-sample supply apparatus, comprising a carrier for a series ofliquid-sample containers, receptacle means mounted laterally of saidcarrier for providing a wash liquid for the liquid-samples, a take-offdevice movable into and out of said containers and said receptaclemeans, respectively, for withdrawing the liquid samples from saidcontainers and the wash liquid from said receptacle means, means tointermittently move said take-01f device and said carrier relative toeach other to position successive samples at said take-oil? device, andmeans automatically operable in relation to said intermittent movementfor moving said take-off device into and out of said containers andreceptacle means, respectively, said receptacle means having an inletand an outlet for the continuous flow of a stream of wash liquid intoand Out of said receptacle means. I

4. Liquid-sample supply apparatus, comprising a carrier for a series ofliquid-sample containers, receptacle means mounted laterally of saidcarrier for providing a wash liquid for the liquid-samples, a take-offdevice movable into and out of said containers and said receptaclemeans, respectively, for withdrawing the liquid samples from saidcontainers and the wash liquid from said receptacle means, means tointermittently move said takeoff device and said carrier relative toeach other to position successive samples at said take-off device, andmeans automatically operable in relation to said intermittent movementfor moving said take-off device into and out of said containers andreceptacle means, respectively, said receptacle means having twochambers and a passage interconnecting said chambers above the bottomsthereof, one of said chambers having an inlet below said passage and theother of said chambers having an outlet below said passage for thecontinuous flow of a stream of wash liquid into and out of saidreceptacle means.

5. Liquid-sample supply apparatus, comprising a carrier for a series ofliquid-sample containers, receptacle means mounted laterally of saidcarrier for providing a wash liquid for the liquid-samples, a take-offdevice movable into and out of said containers and said receptaclemeans, respectively, for withdrawing the liquid samples from saidcontainers and the wash liquid from said receptacle means, means tointermittently move said take-oil device and said carrier relative toeach other to position successive samples at said take-01f device, andmeans automatically operable in relation to said intermittent movementfor moving said take-off device into and out of said containers andreceptacle means, respectivel said receptacle means having two chambersand a passage interconnecting said chambers above the bottoms thereof,one of said chambers having an inlet opening below said passage and theother of said chambers having an outlet opening below said passage forthe continuous flow of a stream of wash liquid into and out of saidreceptacle means, said outlet opening being larger than said inletopening.

6. Liquid-sample supply apparatus, comprising a carrier for a series ofliquid-sample containers, receptacle means mounted laterally of saidcarrier for providing a wash liquid for the liquid-samples, a take-offdevice mounted laterally of said carrier and movable laterally thereofand movable into and out of said containers and said receptacle means,respectively, for withdrawing the liquid samples from said containersand the wash liquid from said receptacle means, means to intermittentlymove said take-oil device and said carrier relative to each other toposition successive samples at said take-off device, and meansautomatically operable in relation to said intermittent movement formoving said take-off device into and out of said containers andreceptacle means, respectively, said receptacle means having an inletand an outlet for the continuous flow of a stream of wash liquid intoand out of said receptacle means.

7. Liquid-sample supply apparatus, comprising a rotary carrier forholding a series of open top liquid-sample containers in a row thereon,open top receptacle means mounted laterally of said carrier forproviding a wash liquid for the liquid samples, a take-off devicemounted laterally of said carrier and said receptacle means and movablelaterally to positions above said containers and said receptacle means,respectively, and movable up and down in said positions into and out ofsaid containers and receptacle means, respectively, for withdrawing thesamples and wash liquid, means to intermittently rotate said carrier tocarry said samples in succession to said take-off device, meansautomatically operable in relation to said intermittent movement of saidcarrier to move said take-off device first into and out of a containerto withdraw at least a portion of the sample therefrom during a dwellperiod of said carrier and then into and out of said receptacle means towithdraw the wash liquid from the latter, and continuously actuated pumpmeans operable to transmit air through said take-ofi device when saidtake-oil device is disposed in said samples or said wash liquid so thata stream of longitudinally spaced liquid samples are formed separatedfrom each other by intervening segments of a wash liquid disposedbetween a pair of air segments.

8. Liquid-sample supply apparatus, comprising a rotary carrier forholding a series of open top liquid-sample containers in a row thereon,open top receptacle means mounted laterally of said carrier forproviding a wash liquid for the liquid samples, a take-off devicemounted laterally of said carrier and said receptacle means and movablelaterally to positions above said containers and said receptacle means,respectively, and movable up and down in said positions into and out ofsaid containers and receptacle means, respectively, for withdrawing thesamples and wash liquid, means to intermittently rotate said carrier tocarry said samples in succession to said take-ofi device, meansautomatically operable under the control of said rotating means in timedrelation to said intermittent movement of said carrier to move saidtake-off device first into and out of a container to withdraw at least aportion ofthe sample therefrom during a dwell period of said carrier andthen into and out of said receptacle means to withdraw the wash liquidfrom the latter, and continuously actuated pump means operable totransmit air through said take-oil? device when said take-off device isnot disposed in said samples or said wash liquid so that a stream oflongitudinally spaced liquid samples are formed separated from eachother by intervening segments of a wash liquid disposed between a pairof air segments, and said receptacle means having an inlet and an outletfor the continuous flow of a stream of wash liquid into and out of saidreceptacle means.

9. Liquid-sample supply apparatus, comprising a rotary carrier forholding a series of open top liquid-sample containers in a row thereon,open top receptacle means mounted laterally of said carrier forproviding a wash liquid for the liquid samples, a take-off devicemounted laterally of said carrier and said receptacle means and movablelaterally to positions above said containers and said receptacle means,respectively, and movable up and down in said positions into and out ofsaid containers and receptacle means, respectively, for withdrawing thesamples and wash liquid, means to intermittently rotate said carrier tocarry said samples in succession to said take-off device, meansautomatically operable under the control of said rotating means in timedrelation to said intermittent movement of said carrier to move saidtake-off device first into and out of a container to withdraw at least aportion of the sample therefrom during a dwell period of said carrierand then into and out of said receptacle means to withdraw the washliquid from the latter, and continuously actuated pump means operable totransmit air through said take-off device when said take-ofl device isnot disposed in said samples or said wash liquid so that a stream oflongitudinally spaced liquid samples are formed separated from eachother by intervening segments of a wash liquid disposed between a pairof air segments, and said receptacle means having two chambers and apassage interconnecting said chambers above the bottoms thereof, one ofsaid chambers having an inlet below said passage and the other of saidchambers having an outlet below said passage for the continuous flow ofa stream of wash liquid into and out of said receptacle means.

10. Liquid-sample supply apparatus, comprising a rotary carrier forholding a series of open top liquid-sample containers in a row thereon,open top receptacle means mounted laterally of said carrier forproviding a wash liquid for the liquid samples, a take-01f devicemounted laterally of said carrier and said receptacle means and movablelaterally to positions above said containers and said receptacle means,respectively, and movable up and down in said positions into and out ofsaid containers and receptacle means, respectively, for withdrawing thesamples and wash liquid, means to intermittently rotate said carrier tocarry said samples in succession to said take-01f device, meansautomatically operable under the control of said rotating means in timedrelation to said intermittent movement of said carrier to move saidtake-off device first into and out of a container to withdraw at least aportion of the sample therefrom during a dwell period of said carrierand then into and out of said receptacle means to withdraw the washliquid from the latter, and continuously actuated pump means operable totransmit air through said take-off device when said take-off device isnot disposed in said samples or said wash liquid so that a stream oflongitudinally spaced liquid samples are formed separated from eachother by intervening segments of a wash liquid disposed between a pairof air segments, and said receptacle means having two chambers and apassage interconnecting said chambers' above the bottoms thereof, one ofsaid chambers having an inlet opening below said passage and the otherof said chambers having an outlet opening below said passage for thecontinuous flow of a stream of wash liquid into and out of saidreceptacle means, said outlet opening being larger than said inletopening.

11. Liquid-sample supply apparatus, comprising a carrier for a series ofliquid-sample containers, stationary receptacle means for providinganother liquid, a take-01f device movable into and out of saidcontainers and said receptacle means, respectively, for withdrawingliquid therefrom, means to intermittently move said take-off device andsaid carrier relative to each other to position successive samplecontainers at said take-oil device, and means automatically operable inrelation to said intermittent movement for moving said take-off deviceinto and out of said containers and receptacle means, respectively.

12. Liquid-sample supply apparatus, comprising a carrier for a series ofliquid-sample containers, receptacle means for providing another liquid,a take-oi? device movable into and out of said containers and saidreceptacle means, respectively, for withdrawing liquid therefrom, meansto intermittently move said take-off device and said carrier relative toeach other to position successive sample containers at said take-offdevice, and means automatically operable in relation to saidintermittent movement for moving said take-off device into and out ofsaid containers and receptacle means, respectively, said receptaclemeans having an inlet and an outlet for the continuous flow of a streamof said other liquid into and out of said receptacle means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,879,141 Skeggs Mar. 24, 1959

1. LIQUID-SAMPLE SUPPLY APPARATUS, COMPRISING A CARRIER FOR A SERIES OFLIQUID-SAMPLE CONTAINERS, RECEPTACLE MEANS MOUNTED LATERALLY OF SAIDCARRIER FOR PROVIDING A WASH LIQUID FOR THE LIQUID-SAMPLES, A TAKE-OFFDEVICE MOVABLE INTO AND OUT OF SAID CONTAINERS AND SAID RECEPTACLEMEANS, RESPECTIVELY, FOR WITHDRAWING THE LIQUID SAMPLES FROM SAIDCONTAINERS AND THE WASH LIQUID FROM SAID RECEPTACLE MEANS, MEANS TOINTERMITTENTLY MOVE SAID TAKE-OFF DEVICE AND SAID CARRIER RELATIVE TOEACH OTHER TO POSITION SUCCESSIVE SAMPLES AT SAID TAKE-OFF DEVICE, ANDMEANS AUTOMATICALLY OPERABLE IN RELATION TO SAID INTERMITTENT MOVEMENTFOR MOVING SAID TAKE-OFF DEVICE INTO AND OUT OF SAID CONTAINERS ANDRECEPTACLE MEANS, RESPECTIVELY.